This book aims to explain the reasons behind Russia's international conduct in the post-Soviet
era examining Russian foreign policy discourse with a particular focus on the major foreign
policy schools of Atlanticism Eurasianism derzhavniki realpolitik geopolitics neo-Marxism
radical nationalism and post-positivism. The Russian post-Soviet threat perceptions and
national security doctrines are studied. The author critically assesses the evolution of
Russian foreign policy decision-making over the last 25 years and analyzes the roles of various
governmental agencies interest groups and subnational actors. Concluding that a foreign policy
consensus is gradually emerging in contemporary Russia Sergunin argues that the Russian
foreign policy discourse aims not only at the formulation of an international strategy but also
at the search for a new national identity. Alexander Sergunin argues that Russia's current
domestic situation defined by numerous socio-economic inter-ethnic demographic
environmental and other problems dictates the need to abandon superpower ambitions and to
rather set modest foreign policy goals.
